Matthew 13 "Preach the Gospel and If Necessary Use Words!"

click here to read Matthew 13



10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
In this chapter of Matthew, Jesus teaches six different parables to the crowds who were following him.  A parable was an earthly analogy, with a heavenly meaning.  Jesus often used analogies in parables that people could understand.  For instance the first three parables deal with farming, which was very relevant in an agricultural society.  For example the "sower and seed", "weeds and wheat", and "mustard seed" parables are the first three he teaches.  
Jesus taught parables that rewarded those who were seeking the truth, and only further hardened those who had already rejected the truth.  
William Barclay says it this way, 
"The parable conceals truth from those who are either too lazy to think or too blinded by prejudice to see. It puts the responsibility fairly and squarely on the individual. It reveals truth to him who desires truth; it conceals truth from him who does not wish to see the truth.” 

 In another passage Jesus tells his disciples not to throw their "pearls before swine." Meaning don't feed what is holy to the dogs.  Simply put, Jesus wants all people to seek the truth through Him. But if people are not interested or are disinclined to take him seriously, he lets them be.  Jesus can't make anybody listen to him, nor does he try to.  Jesus also realizes that some were already hardened, and might listen but with no intention of learning anything from him. 

 I think this is a good principle to remember.  We have all had conversations with people who were combative to our point of view from the beginning.  We see this a lot in political conversations.  There is really no exchange of ideas, just one person trying to prove another wrong. 

 So then how are we to share the Good News? We know we are called to share the Good News. Jesus gives us the Great Commission. But that is just it, sharing is different than trying to "cram it down someone's throat".  As our first parable teaches, we are only cast the seeds. If it falls on fertile ground, it may take root. Or it can initially take root, but then weeds may choke it out its growth.  But some seed that is sown takes root, grows and actually bears fruit.  Importantly for us to remember is, "Though we plant the seeds, it is God who makes it grow!"  

 In the end this truth takes the pressure off of us to convert anyone.  We should not even try. We are only called to live a life worthy of the gospel and then when asked, give an answer for the hope we have in Jesus.

 St Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel and if necessary use words!"  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why a...
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the...
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in ...
Read more